Frankie Goes to Hollywood (video game)

Frankie Goes to Hollywood is a computer game that was developed by Denton Designs and published by Ocean Software Ltd in 1985 for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum home computers. The game is based on music, imagery and slogans of the UK band Frankie Goes to Hollywood.[1]

Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Developer(s)Denton Designs
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, C64, ZX Spectrum
Release
Genre(s)Arcade adventure, puzzle, minigame
Mode(s)Single-player

Objective

The game puts the player in Liverpool in search for the Pleasuredome. The player has to find and use various objects and play minigames to reach the goal. The player starts the game as a simple character, to reach the Pleasuredome one has to become a full person. To become a full person, the four attributes (sex, war, love and faith) must be filled to 99%. The attributes are boosted by completing tasks in the game. Additional pleasure points can be scored by playing the minigames. The four attributes are part of the symbols used on the covers of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's albums.

During the game a murder takes place. All the rooms the player can visit contain clues in order to find the murderer. The clues are in pairs, helping eliminate suspects. For example, you may be told "The killer is an atheist" and "Mr Somebody is a regular church-goer" - so Mr Somebody would be innocent. In theory the game cannot be completed without making the correct accusation (by returning to the room with the body) - there is a large bonus of Pleasure Points for naming the killer.

List of minigames
  • Sea of Holes
  • The Terminal Room
  • Cybernetic Breakout
  • Cupid's Arrows
  • Raid Over Merseyside
  • Talking Heads
  • Shooting Gallery
  • War Room
  • Flower Power
  • ZTT Room

Development

The game was developed by Denton Designs and the game was based on the engine for Gift from the Gods[2]

Music

Certain versions of the game feature 8 bit chiptune versions of the band's songs such as "Relax" and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome". The ZX Spectrum version features an adaptation of "Two Tribes" as the title music. The game package also included a live version of "Relax" on tape cassette.

Reception

Roy Wagner reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "The graphics and game play are well done. I think you will find it an interesting game."[4]

In 1991, Your Sinclair included the game at number 71 in their list of the Top 100 Best Spectrum Games of All Time.[5] In 1993, Commodore Force ranked the game at number one on its list of the top 100 Commodore 64 games.[6]

Sex/Pleasure/Lust

The first icon, represented by two sperm in a yin yang image, is variously described as either Sex, Lust or Pleasure. The game inlay refers to the icon as Pleasure, the music press usually referred to it as Sex, and some computer magazines occasionally used the term Lust instead.[7]

References
  1. MacFarlane, Kit (11 January 2011). "Frankie Goes to Hollywood & Gets There Behind the 'Wheel' of a Classic Commodore 64". PopMatters.
  2. Mason, Graeme. "The making of Frankie Goes To Hollywood". Eurogamer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. "Zzap!64 100th Issue Pull-Out Special Page 5". Zzap64.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  4. Wagner, Roy (November 1986). "Commodore Key". Computer Gaming World. 1 (32): 12.
  5. "The YS Official Top 100 Part 2". Ysrnry.co.uk. November 1991. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  6. "Top Ton!". Commodore Force. Autumn 1993. p. 33. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  7. Your Sinclair issue 19
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